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School consolidation plan hearing rescheduled by Michigan House panel

Genesee Intermediate School District Administrative Building

Intermediate school districts like the Genesee ISD, seen here, would have new responsibilities under a proposed consolidation of administrative school services which legislators will discuss with State Superintendent Mike Flanagan later this month.
(File photo)

LANSING -- A Michigan House subcommittee hearing on school consolidation issues has been rescheduled in the wake of a proposal by State Superintendent Mike Flanagan to combine administrative services into the intermediate school district system.

The House Appropriations subcommittees for education and school aid had been set to meet July 23 to discuss school consolidation issues.

Flanagan was invited by Rep. Bill Rogers (R-Brighton) to testify about the proposal, but that meeting has been pushed to July 31 because of a scheduling conflict, according to committee staff.

The proposal would bring accounting, transportation, food service, technology and other administrative and support services under the umbrella of the state's 57 intermediate school districts. Individual school districts would then purchase those services at cost from the ISDs rather than each district providing their own services, as is the case now.

The proposal drew measured responses from both the Michigan Education Association and the Michigan Association of School Administrators. Spokespeople from the organizations said they welcomed the opportunity to discuss the proposal, but stopped short of endorsing or criticizing the plan.

The public hearing is now set for 1 p.m. July 31 on the fifth floor of the House Office Building.